Drawing-down device for banjo-vellums.



No. 708,934. Patented Sept. 9, I902. W. J. STENT.

DRAWING DOWN DEVICE FOR BANJO VELLUMS.

(-Applicaticn filed Feb 24, 1902,)

(No Model.)

145m TER .J. Sum]: WW

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER JOSEPH STENT, OF SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

DRAWING-DOWN DEVICE FOR BANJO-VELLUMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,934, dated September 9, 1902. Application filed February 24, 1902. Serial No, 95,442. (No model.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J OSEPH STENT, musician, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at No. 19 Hunter street, Sydney, in the State of New South Wales and Commonwealth of Australia,.have invented new and useful Improvements in Drawing-Down Devices for Banjo-Vellums, of which the following is a specification.

Hitherto in banjos the devices for affixing the drawing-down hoop tightly around the vellum have been affixed to the head by piercing the rim and bolting thereto brackets taking the stress of the drawing-down books, or these devices have been carried upon an extra band outside the rim. Further, it is acknowledged that the less metal there be about the head and rim of a banjo so much the better will be its tone. Now this invention has been specially devised in order to obviate the necessity of piercing the rim or of having an extra band outside the rim and in order that the amount of metal necessary to enable a tight drawing down of the hoop on the head will be considerably reduced; but in order that this invention may be clearly understood reference will now be made to the drawings herewith, in which- Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of the head or rim and vellum of a banjo, showing three diiferent constructions of these improved drawing-down devices. Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are respectively inside face view, edge View, plan, and reverse plan of the drawingdown devices.

On the drawing-down hoop 1, around the vellum 2, take the hooks or turnovers 4 of the bifurcated or forked puller-piece, Whose forks are marked 5 and its base 6, said base having a square orifice therethrough. To complement this puller-piece is an anchor-piece, having hook 7, taking over the bottom edge (and adapted to the configuration of said edge) of the rim 3 and having flange or base 8, placed in juxtaposition with base 6, so that a square-shouldered bolt 9 will pass through both said bases and its nut 10 be used for the tightening down of the rim. Each bolt 9 acting on the hoop 1 at two points by reason of the forks or double hooks 5 of the puller-piece reduces the number of devices by one-half,

and thus reduces the amount of metal used and largely preserves the tone of the head.

It is obvious that instead of using the anchor-piece shown and described the ordinary L-shaped bracket 11 might still be used and the improved bifurcated puller-pieces used in combination with these. In this case the number of brackets would be reduced, as also the number of perforations through the rim. It is also plain that instead of using the bifurcated or forked puller-piece a puller-piece with but one prong or hook might be used in conjunction with the anchor-piece described. In this case the brackets would be dispensed with altogether and no perforations be necessary, and although I prefer to use what I have shown and described, yet I consider the combinations and arrangements just last described to be within the scope and nature of these improvements.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in What manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In a drawing-down device for banjo-vellums, an anchor-piece consisting of a base provided with an opening and ahook depending from the side of said base, a puller-piece consisting of a fork having hooked ends and a base provided with an opening and integral with the lower end of the fork, a headed bolt extending through the said openings, the head of said bolt engaging the base of the fork, and a nut mounted on the bolt for securing said anchor and puller piece in their adjusted position.

2. In a drawing-down device for banjo-vellums, an anchor-piece consisting of a base and a hook depending therefrom, a puller-piece consisting of a fork having hooked ends and a base integral therewith, a bolt extending through the base of said pieces, and a nut mounted on the bolt for securing said anchor and puller piece in their adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER JOSEPH STENT.

\Vitnesses:

FRED WALSH, STEPHEN J. DYER. 

